Automatic needle sewing machine threader device



United States Patent [72] Inventors Jose Gomez Montoya Box 697, Armenia, Colombia;

Humberto Vivas Balcazar, Box 697,

Armenia, Colombia [21] Appl. No. 724,922 [22] Filed April 29, 1968 [45] Patented Aug.l1,1970

[54] AUTOMATIC NEEDLE SEWING MACHINE THREADER DEVICE 6 Claims, 14 Drawing Figs.

52 us. Cl.

[5|] Int. Cl D05b 87/02 [50] Field ol'Search ll2/225; 223/99; 7/l'. 33/185 [56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS l8,90| l9 l0 Great Britain Primary Exuminer Richard .I. Scnnlun. Jr. A ttorney- Browdy and Neimark ABSTRACT: A device is provided for automatically threading a sewing machine needle by passing a hook-like element through the needle eye, hooking the thread, and pulling the thread and the hook-like element through the eye.

Patehted Aug. 11, 1910* 3,523,511

Sheet 1 of 2 INVENTORS' JOSE GOMEZ MONTOYA HUMBERTO VII/AS BALCAZAI? ATTORNEY Sheet 2. of2

INVENTORS JOSE GOMEZ MO/W'OYA HUMBERTO V/VAS BALCAZdR BY gm/ ATTORNEY AUTOMATIC NEEDLE SEWING MACHINE THREADER DEVICE SPECIFICATICN The present invention relates to a needle threader device for sewing machines, and, more particularly, to an automatic sewing machine needle threader.

The device according to the present invention performs the passage of thread through the needle eye by simply positioning the thread on the device by hand with no need of exerting any careful sighting, oftentimes annoying, as is normally the case when one is carrying out the needle threading operation in a sewing machine without the use of the threader device of the instant invention.

The invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

FIG. l-A is abottom plan view of the threader latch box.

FIG. 1-3 is a top plan view of the threader latch box.

FIG. l-G is a side elevation view of the threader latch box.

FIG. l-D is an end view of the member shown in the above figures.

FIG. -2-A is a bottom plan view of the threader key.

FIG. 2-8 is an elevation side view of the threader key.

FIG. 2-C is an end view of the key of FIGS. 2-A and 2-8.

FIG. 3-A is a top view of the latch with its threader hook and its corresponding associated coil spring.

FIGURE 3-8 is a side view of the latch with its threader hook.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the base plate of the threader device.

FIG. 5-A is a view showing members 1 and 2 assembled together in the position they assume when starting the needle threading operation.

FIG. 5-8 shows the above members I and 2 assembled together when the movement therebetween has been carried out for achieving the passage of the thread through the needle as will be explained below.

FIG. 6-A is a view showing the overall arrangement with the needle positioned in the condition to be threaded through.

FIG. 6-3 is a diagrammatic view showing the threader apparatus in raised position when the bearing posts length has been decreased by telescopic coupling of the several sections thereof thereby releasing the needle to become free to carry out the sewing operation.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, member ,1 is a quadrangular cross-sectional box as shown in FIG. I'D having a central bore 13 through the top and bottom thereof for the passage therethrough of the sewing machine needle. At its rear end the box I has an upturned flange-like sheet 16 and along each side wall thereof is provided with an elongated slot 21 which terminates at the flange 16. A cut out portion 19 is provided extending downwardly from the top of the box 1 near the front end thereof and along each side wall.

For placement within the box 1 there is provided a latch 17 carrying its operating coil spring 3 and provided with a threader hook 7 (see FIGS. 3-A and 3-8). The latch 17 is provided with small spikes 18 which extend laterally from the body portion thereof and which, in assembled position as shown in FIG. 5, protrude a short amount from the side wall of the box 1 through the elongated slots 21. The threader hook 7 comprises a hook member at its terminal end for the grasping ofthe thread during use.

A U-shaped member 2 (see FIG. 2) carries the box 1 and is pivotally linked thereto by a pin I4 (see FIGS. 6-A and 6 B) journaled in facing bores 4 and 5 of the box 1 and the member 2, respectively (see FIGS. l-C and 2-8). The member 2 has on its bottom wall an elongated slot 12 which aligns with the central bore 13 of the box I for passage therethrough and movement of the needle therein. The member 2 isprovided at its end with a biased cut rear portion 11 which terminates at the bottom thereof in a recess 13. Cut portions 6 are provided in the side walls of the member 2 and align generally with the cut side wall portions 19 of the box 1.

In use, the upturned flange 16 retains the latch 17 within the box 1 holding the spring end 3 to prevent its accidental removal. the spikes 18 passing through the slots 21 as described above. As shown in FIG. 5-A, with the box 1 and the member 2 linked together by the pin 14, the hook 7 of the latch 17 passes through the eye of the needle and a thread 20 is placed on such hook 7, the latch 17 being lodged within the box 1. As can be seen from FIG. S-A, the member 2 extends downwardly out of the plane of the box 1. However, when the member 2 is moved upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 5- B, the latch threader 17 is forced rearwardly by the pushing action exerted on the spikes l8 protruding the slots 21 by the biased cut rear portion 11 of the member 2; such action by the inclined portions 11 thereby moves the entire latch 17 rearwardly pulling the hook 7 and the thread 20 backwardly through the needle eye. When the above sequence of operations has been completed, the member 2 becomes gripped to the latch 17 by means of the recess 13 as shown in FIG. 5-B thereby preventing any further action of the latch 17 on the needle 9.

As depicted in FIG. 6-A, the threader device is shown in proper position to thread the needle 9 as above-described. As can be noted from this figure, the box I is welded to a base plate A, shown in detail in FIG. 4, and the latter is fixed by means of a pair of posts 10 which are comprised of telescopically coupled sections so that the posts can be decreased in height. The upper section of the posts 10 are joined to a holddown or clamping member 16 which carries the sewing machine needle 9 by means of screws or any other suitable means.

When it is desired to thread the needle 9, the apparatus, starting in the position illustrated in FIG. 6-8, is lowered by means of the telescoping posts 10. This descending movement stops at the proper height due to the presence of grooves which may be provided on the post side walls so that at theend of travel the needle eye faces the latch hook 7. Thereafter, the threader device is released by pressing downwardly upon the rearwardly extending flange of the member 2 and at this point the hook 7 of the latch 17 is urged forwardly by the spring 3 4 thereby causing such hook to pass through the needle eye. In

this position the threader device is ready to carry out its operation as described above.

The automatic threading is accomplished by passing the thread 20 about the hook 7 as shown in FIG. 5-A and as described above. When the sewing machine is started, the member 2 collides against the sewing machine fabric-pressure (not shown) causing the closing of the member 2 against the box 1 as described above, thereby passing the thread through the needle eye as described above. The threading device is then carried to the top of the needle by retracting the telescoping posts 10 and then the needle becomes entirely free and ready to sew.

Without further analysis, the foregoing description will so fully reveal the general nature of the present invention, as well as a specific embodiment thereof, that others can by applying current knowledge, readily modify such specific embodiment 1. A device for automatically threading a sewing machine needle comprising:

A first support member for anchoring adjacent the sewing machine needle, said first support member having a generally quadrangular cross section and a pair of oppositely located elongated slots;

a hooking latch carried by said first support member and including a hook for passing through the needle eye and means. to spring bias said hook toward and through the needle eye, said hooking latch having a pair of protruding tips which extend through and slide within said pair of elongated slots in said first support member;

and means to retract said hook against the force of said spring means to move said hook away from said needle eye by sliding said protruding tips within said elongated slots, and to retain said hook in retracted position, said retracting and retaining means comprising a second support member of generally U-shape which is adapted to retain said first member therein, said second support member being pivotally mounted on said first support member and adapted to be pivotally rotated against said first support member to cause said first support member to be retained within said second support member and to retract and retain said hook.

2. A device in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said second support member is provided with an inclined plane which when rotating said second support against said first support contacts said protruding tips thereby effecting said retracting of said hook.

3. A device in accordance with Claim 2 wherein said first support includes a vertical flange at its rear end against which said spring means of said hooking latch bears.

4. A device in accordance with Claim 2 further comprising a base plate to which said first support is anchored by welding; and a pair of vertical posts for holding said base plate, said posts being for joining at their upper ends to the clamping member for the sewing machine needle.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 wherein said vertical posts are formed of telescoping portions.

6. A device for automatically threading a sewing machine needle comprising:

a pair of vertical telescoping posts adapted to be joined at their upper end to the clamping member for a sewing machine needle, and means to anchor a first support member adjacent the sewing machine needle at the bottom of said telescoping vertical posts;

a hooking latch carried by said first support member and including a hook for passing through the needle eye, and means to spring bias said hook toward and through the needle eye;

and means to effect retraction of said hook against the force of said spring means to move said hook away from the needle eye and to retain said hook in retracted position by the action of starting the sewing machine, said retracting and retaining means comprising a second support member pivotally mounted on said first support member and extending therebelow, said second support member being adapted to be pivotally rotated against said first support member to retract and retain said hook when said second support member strikes the sewing machine fabric-pressure upon starting the machine. 

